By Jim Fenton, The Enterprise (Brockton)

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- His cross country and track careers were placed on hold during the 2013-14 seasons at Bridgewater State University.

Andy Sukeforth of Middleboro added political science as a major to go along with history and said he wanted to concentrate on academics in the transition.

So after spending three years as a record-setting member of the track team and one season of running cross country, Sukeforth took some time off from the sports.

Now a senior, the former Enterprise All-Scholastic returned to the Bears’ cross country team this season with a sense of determination.

The year away from the two sports gave Sukeforth a renewed appreciation for the competition, and he was glad to be back when the Bears opened the cross country season on Sept. 6.

“I put in a lot more mileage and took a lot more chances with my training to get better,’’ said Sukeforth.

All of that work has paid off for Sukeforth, who qualified for the NCAA Division 3 Championships in Mason, Ohio, on Saturday after winning the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference title and earning All-New England honors this month.

“The other time that I did cross country in college (2012), I didn’t really do that well,’’ said Sukeforth. “This is a big turnaround.’’

The 2010 Middleboro High graduate has been named the MASCAC runner of the week four times. He had a time of 26.30.33 to finish first at the conference meet and second at the New England Alliance meet and was 30th out of 373 runners in New England in 26:14.2.

“I think he had his goals set all year, basically to go to the nationals,’’ said Bears coach Jim Simoneau. “He put all the hard work in. I really wasn’t surprised he was in the running (for the NCAAs) at the end of the season.

“I think the first year he ran cross country in college, he just did it to get in shape for track. He wanted to do well and he was competitive, but I don’t think he had goals like he did this year.

“He was like, ‘I’m going to do it, I’m going to do it well and I want to go to nationals.’ I think two years ago, he was helping the team out and getting in shape and finding out what it was all about.’’

Sukeforth, who left on Thursday for the nationals, has had plenty of success in track for BSU, earning All-New England honors in the mile in the 2012-13 indoor season as well as the 1,500 outdoors and getting named to the All-ECAC team in 2011-12.

He owns the school indoor records in the mile (4:12.17) and the 1,000 (2:29.69) and now is headed to the NCAAs in cross country.

“I figured if I worked hard, I could have a chance,’’ said Sukeforth of the NCAAs. “After the conference meet, I gained a lot of confidence. I had a fast time and I figured if I grinded it out the next meet, I could make it.

“It’s going to be interesting. It’s a big field. It should be a tough race. I think definitely this is going to help me. It’s the best cross country season I’ve had and I think it will translate during the indoor and outdoor seasons.’’